Cool-Storage Evaporator Structure for Engine-Off Cabin Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Ordinary car air conditioners experience a significant drop in cooling capacity when the engine stops, as the compressor-driven refrigerant supply is halted, leading to inadequate cooling of the vehicle compartment.
Innovation Solution
An evaporator with a cool storage function is designed, featuring flat refrigerant flow tubes, outer fins, and cool storage material containers. The containers store cool energy when the compressor is operating, allowing for continued cooling when the engine is stopped by transferring stored cool to the refrigerant flow tubes and outer fins, which then cool the air passing through.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the engine is stopped to protect the environment and improve fuel consumption, then fuel consumption is improved, but the cooling capacity of the air conditioner drops sharply
Solution Approach 1:
The cool storage material container stores cooling capacity in advance during engine operation, so that when the engine stops and the compressor stops operating, the pre-stored cooling capacity can be released to maintain air conditioner cooling performance without requiring the engine to be running
Solution Approach 2:
The cool storage material container acts as an intermediary between the compressor and the evaporator, storing and releasing cooling capacity as needed. When the compressor stops, the cool storage material container releases stored cooling to the refrigerant flow tubes, maintaining cooling function without direct compressor operation
2Reliability
If a cool storage material container is disposed in the clearance between tube sets, then the cool storage function is achieved, but the space for outer fins is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The evaporator structure is designed with non-uniform distribution of components: cool storage material containers are placed in specific clearances between tube sets where they provide cooling storage function, while outer fins are disposed in remaining clearances. This local differentiation optimizes both cool storage capability and heat exchange surface area without requiring uniform spacing throughout the entire evaporator structure
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design maintains effective cooling of the vehicle compartment even when the engine is stopped, preventing a sharp drop in cooling capacity and ensuring consistent air conditioning performance.
Implementation Method 1
The containers store cool energy when the compressor is operating, allowing for continued cooling when the engine is stopped by transferring stored cool to the refrigerant flow tubes and outer fins
Implementation Method 2
transferring stored cool to the refrigerant flow tubes and outer fins, which then cool the air passing through
Data Source
AI summary
An evaporator with a cool storage function includes a plurality of flat refrigerant flow tubes and at least one cool storage material container. The at least one cool storage material container includes a container main body and a plurality of convex portions. The container main body has a first wall and a second wall opposite to the first wall which are substantially parallel to a plane including a longitudinal direction and a width direction. The first wall and the second wall are connected to adjacent refrigerant flow tubes among the plurality of refrigerant flow tubes, respectively. The plurality of convex portions are provided on the first wall and the second wall to protrude outwardly from the first wall and the second wall. Two adjacent convex portions among the plurality of convex portions form each of condensed water drain passages therebetween.